Australian Football

Originally from VAFA club Ivanhoe, Geoff Miles was an adaptable footballer who combined a strong work ethic with exceptional defensive qualities, and who gave useful service to four league clubs. He commenced with Collingwood in 1982 and was widely considered hard done by when delisted two years later after playing 31 senior games and kicking seven goals, mainly as either a half back flanker or wingman. In 1985 he crossed the country to Western Australia and joined Claremont, where he would go on to play a total of 73 games, culminating in the victorious Grand Final of 1991 against Subiaco.

Between 1987 and 1990 his WAFL career ran in tandem with a V/AFL career with West Coast, for whom he played 71 games and kicked 33 goals, whilst greatly enhancing his reputation as a highly dependable, strong leaping rebound defender. At the end of a 1991 season in which he had been unable to break into the powerful Eagles line-up he was traded to Geelong where he promptly showed that he still had plenty to offer by giving the Cats some highly creditable service, playing 20 out of 26 matches in 1992, and booting 25 goals. His last game was the 1992 Grand Final, in which the Cats succumbed to Miles' former club, West Coast, by 28 points. During his time in Western Australia, Geoff Miles represented that state on four occasions.

Author - John Devaney